The goal of Holy Trinity’s Confirmation Preparation is to nurture, enhance, and deepen faith formation begun in the early formative years of our youth.  We recognize that this formation does not end, but rather changes in scope and experience as these young people accept, more deeply, the invitation to discipleship. 

Partnering with families, our parish community pledges to provide dynamic, on going faith formation for young people seeking to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church.

STRUCTURE OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS

The Director of Religious Education and the Parish Coordinator of Youth Ministry  are responsible for the process.  Included in this process are trained mentors, adults who desire to share their faith and journey with our young candidates and a number of trained peer ministers chosen from among our older high school CYO members.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE

In order to be accepted into the confirmation program, each candidate must meet the following criteria:

1. Is a Registered Parishioner at Holy Trinity:   The candidate’s family must be registered parishioners of the parish in order to enter the program. 

2. Be of High School Age:  Each candidate must be a minimum of a freshman in high school.

3. Has Completed the Proper Formal Catechetical Instruction:  

Each candidate must have completed a minimum of grades 6-7-8 in a parish catechetical program or a parochial school.  Individuals who have not completed such and wish to enter the program will be treated on an individual basis.

THREE STAGES OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS

The confirmation process models the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, (R.C.I.A.) in preparing for, accepting, and committing our youth to full initiation into the Church.   This process stresses total faith formation which includes participation in the life of the Church through: 

WORD       WORSHIP      COMMUNITY      SERVICE

STAGE ONE:  INVITATION

At this stage, a letter is sent to the families of our parish youth who have completed at least 6-7-8 grade of catechetical instruction, either in a parochial school or a parish religious education program. This letter invites the youth and their parents to a meeting designed to help them begin the discerning process around the sacrament of confirmation.

STAGE TWO:  PRECATECHUMENATE    Level I

Once an individual has accepted the invitation and has completed the objectives set forth in the first stage, then one is ready to enter into this stage of the program. In this stage, the candidate must

 WORD (reference page 4)

                    Participate in Mentoring Sessions

      WORSHIP (reference page 5 & top of 6)

                   Regular participation in Sunday Eucharist

                   Participate in the Rite of Choice

                   Participate in Advent & Lenten Reconciliation Services

COMMUNITY (reference page 6)

                  Participate in a weekend retreat

Attend and participate in CYO meetings

Participate in CYO sponsored community wide events

SERVICE (reference page 6 bottom)

                  Complete service and submit service evaluation

STAGE THREE: CATECHUMENATE LEVEL II

Here, the candidate is invited to come to a better understanding of his/her Catholic identity.  The Catechumenal stage requires that a candidate continue to experience the 4 Components of our faith through Participation in

WORD (reference page 4)

                    Participate in Mentoring Sessions

 WORSHIP (reference page 5 & Top of 6)

                   Regular participation in Sunday Eucharist

                   Participate in the Rite of Enrollment

                 Participate in Advent & Lenten Reconciliation Services

                   Participate in Living Meditations

COMMUNITY (reference page 6)

                  Participate in a weekend retreat

Attend and participate in CYO meetings

Participate in CYO sponsored community wide events

SERVICE: (reference page 6 bottom)

                  Complete service and submit service evaluation

 PARTICIPATION IN THE MENTORING SESSIONS

Each candidate is given the opportunity to sign up for a mentoring group.  Each mentor facilitates the eight yearly meetings with a group of 10 or less candidate’s. The groups will meet at various times.  At the beginning of Level I and II, the candidate’s will receive a list of mentors and their scheduled meeting dates for the year. The candidates will then choose their mentoring group from the information given

TOPICS FOR MENTORING GROUPS:

      LEVEL I                                                          LEVEL II

      Introduction                                                    Catholic Identity

      Baptism                                                          Liturgical Year

      Love of Neighbor                                          Self Acceptance

      Trust in God                                                   Faith/Spirituality

      Suffering/Death                                             Church Community

      Prayer/Beatitudes                                         Ministry: Social Justice

      10 Commandments                                      Morality

      Sacraments                                                   The Holy Spirit

Cancellation of Group & Missed Groups

The authority to cancel small group meetings due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances belongs to the mentor for each small group.  All telephone calls concerning this subject should be directed to the individual mentor. Mentor will contact the RE office as well as the individual group members with the cancellation and the make up date. .

If a candidate is going to be absent, it is the parent’s responsibility to contact by telephone at least one of the small group leaders and the Religious Ed. Office.  A make-up assignment will need to be completed for each session missed regardless of the reason. Candidates are expected to be at all small group sessions and all required events unless illness or a family emergency arises.  Sports events/practices, trips, weekends away, homework, and all other reasons are not acceptable for being absent. Any candidate who misses more than two required events within the program year will need have a meeting to determine the appropriate course of action.

RITES

Level I Candidates, Rite of Choice, Sunday, January 22, 2006 at the 12 Noon Eucharist

This rite signifies the individual’s choice to be a part of the Confirmation process.  It provides an opportunity for the parish community to be connected to the celebration of Confirmation at an early stage.  Parents and Sponsors should attend with the candidates.

Level II Candidates, Rite of Enrollment, Sunday, March 19, 2006 at the 12 Noon Eucharist

This Rite is celebrated on a Sunday in Lent. It symbolizes the community’s choosing, electing, approving these young people into its full membership as an adult, initiated Christian. Candidates’ Letters of request are presented at this time.  Parents as well as sponsors should be present at this liturgy to symbolize their support and encouragement

WORSHIP

(Choose to attend four worship experiences over the course of Level I & II Preparation)

Youth Masses

Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 6:00 PM in the Church

Sunday, January 8, 2006 at 6:00 PM in the Church

Sunday, February 5, 2006 at 6:00 PM in the Church

Youth Reconciliation Services

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 7:30 PM in the Church

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the Church

Living Meditations

Jesus the Healer, Sunday, March 5, 2006 at 7:00 PM in the Church

The Living Stations, Good Friday, April 14, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the Church          

Praise & Worship

Pentecost Celebration, Sunday, June, 2006 at 7:00 PM on the Holy Trinity School Lawn

Community

 Retreat Weekend

(Choose 1 retreat  experiences over the course of Level I & II Preparation)

October 28-30, 2005, St. Francis Retreat, Easton, PA

March 31 –April 2, 2006, Aldersgate Retreat, Swartswood, NJ

November 10-12, 2006, Emmaus House Retreat, Perth Amboy, NJ

Catholic Youth Organization

(Choose 14 CYO Meetings over the course of Level I & II Preparation)

CYO Parish Sponsored Events

(Choose 2 CYO sponsored events to implement over the course of Level I & II Preparation)

Peasant Supper, Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 6:00 PM in the Cafeteria

The Living Stations, Good Friday, April 14, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the Church    

Service

 (Complete 24 hours of service over the course of Level I & II Preparation)

Example of Two Year Process Divided

Level I

8 Mentor Sessions    (attendance noted)

7 CYO Meetings (attendance noted)

Rite of Choice (honor system)

2 Youth Worship Experiences (Participation) (honor system)

1 Retreat (Attendance noted)

1 CYO sponsored events (Implement) (attendance noted)

12 Service Hours (service evaluation completed)

Level I

8 Mentor Sessions    (attendance noted)

7 CYO Meetings (attendance noted)

Rite of Enrollment (attendance noted)

2 Youth Worship Experiences (Participation) (honor system)

1 CYO sponsored events (Implement) (attendance noted)

12 Service Hours (service evaluation completed)

A Candidate can choose to complete the process in as little as two years or as many as four. Also all components are flexible as to when and how they are completed except for the mentor groups and the Rites.  I.e., a candidate can choose to do the entire 24 hours of service over the summer months.

A NOTE TO PARENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS

One question that is often asked, “Why has confirmation been moved to a time when a young person is already so busy with other things in his/her life?”  The answer is very simple, but often hard to accept,”Because a young person is so busy with other things in his/her life!”

It is during this period that a young person begins to personify God. God is becoming a real person, rather than some distant figure that we learn about and that our parents tell us about.  It is at this time a young person begins to explore his/her own independence.  With this independence, a young person can become involved in life situations he/she has never had to face before.  It is at this time a young person looks critically at the faith and values handed on to him/her by his/her parents. It is at this time, the adolescent will begin to question, doubt, analyze his/her faith In order to come to a conclusion of either personally accepting what has been taught or refusing to accept what has been taught.

The parent’s role is vital.  An adolescent who’s parents practices his/her faith convictions, is willing to share the high and low points of one’s spiritual journey,, and is willing to listen to their teen’s struggles without passing judgment, will find that this time of spiritual discovery and commitment is a rewarding experience for both the parent and the teen.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

We strongly encourage parents to be actively involved with their child’s preparation for this sacrament.

We ask parents to:

Discuss the materials presented to the teen on a weekly basis

Provide transportation to meetings and events

Attend weekly liturgy with the teen

Be faith role models for their teen as well as all of the others in the program

Attend parent Meetings as they arise

Pray for their teen as well as all others participating in this process